Kenya

Republic of Kenya

republicIndependence 12 December 1963 (from UK)

Kenya as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNairobi

Position1 00 N, 38 00 E

Area582,650 sq km

LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia

Populationas each edition published it

28.8 million July 1997 est. · 24.64m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.13% 1997 est. · 3.18% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

54.39 years 1997 est. · 54.07 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.26 children per woman 1997 est. · 6.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

55.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 60 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,400 1996 est. · $320 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1996 est. · -1% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia | and Tanzania

18 fields

Land useshare of 582,650 sq km

arable land 7%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 37%forests and woodland 30%other 25% (1993 est.)irrigated 660 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

582,650sq km

land: 569,250 sq kmwater: 13,400 sq kmslightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Coastline

536km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

5,199m

Mount Kenyalowest point : Indian Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

3,446km

border countries : Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Natural resources

gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife

Environment - current issues

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes;
degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
deforestation;
soil erosion;
desertification;
poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified :: Desertification

Geography - note

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa;
glaciers on Mt. Kenya;
unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

People

15 fields

Population

28,803,085

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.13% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

32.44Death

10.83Net migration

-0.34

Ethnic groups

Kikuyu 22%Luhya 14%Luo 13%Kalenjin 12%Kamba 11%Kisii 6%Meru 6%other African 15%non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions

Protestant (including Anglican) 38%Roman Catholic 28%indigenous beliefs 26%other 8%

Literacy

78.1%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 86.3%female: 70% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years : 44% (male 6,403,826; female 6,264,971)

15-64 years:: 53% (male 7,682,401; female 7,696,504)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 340,664; female 414,719) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 54.39 years
male :: 54.21 years
female:: 54.59 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun :: Kenyan(s)
adjective:: Kenyan

Languages

English (official), Swahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Government

Republic; President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

37%

Daniel T. arap MOI 37%Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%Oginga ODINGA (FORD-Kenya) 17%election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998)

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form :: Kenya
former:: British East Africa

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Constitution

12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1992

Legal system

based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law;
judicial review in High Court;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations;
constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Executive branch

chief of state :: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978);
Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978);
Vice President George SAITOTI (since 10 May 1989);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote from among the members of the National Assembly for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held by early 1998);
vice president appointed by the president
election results :: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent of vote - Daniel T. arap MOI 37%, Kenneth MATIBA (FORD-ASILI) 26%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 19%, Oginga ODINGA (FORD-Kenya) 17%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (200 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 188 popularly elected members to serve 5-year terms)

elections:: last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held between 1 April 1997 and 31 January 1998)
election results :: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - KANU 100, FORD-Kenya 31, FORD-Asili 31, DP 23, smaller parties 3;
president nominates 12 additional members;
note - as of 9 April 1996
seat distribution (among non-appointed seats) was:: KANU 106, FORD-Kenya 32, FORD-Asili 22, DP 22, smaller parties and vacancies 6

note : first multiparty election since repeal of one-party state law in 1991

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed by the president; High Court

Political parties and leaders

ruling party :: Kenya African National Union or KANU [President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI]
opposition party:: Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Kenya [Michael WAMALWA];
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy or FORD-Asili [Kenneth MATIBA];
Democratic Party of Kenya or DP [Mwai KIBAKI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic and other Christian churches;
unregistered SAFINA party with which prominent naturalist Richard Leakey is associated;
human rights groups;
labor unions

International organization participation

ACP, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Benjamin Edgar KIPKORIR
chancery:: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 387-6101

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission :: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELL (17 July 1996)
embassy:: corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi
mailing address:: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone:: [254] (2) 334141

FAX

[254] (2) 340838

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green;
the red band is edged in white;
a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Economy

Since 1993, the government of Kenya has | implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform.

22 fields

Real growth rate

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 3.8% (1995)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.6%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

35%urban

(1994 est.)

Labor force

8.78million

(1993 est.)by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, non-agriculture 20%-25%

GDP - composition by sector(1995 est.)

agriculture 29.7%industry 11.1%services 59.2% (1995 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.7 billionExpenditures

$2.7 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $620 million (FY95/96)

Economy - overview

Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatization of publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service.

With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Substantial barriers to growth and development remain, including electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate (which has declined substantially in recent years).

GDP

purchasing power parity - $39.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (1996 est.)

Industries

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), processing agricultural products;
oil refining, cement;
tourism

Electricity - capacity

810,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - production

3.48 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

125 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Exports

total value:: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities:: tea 35.7%, coffee 28.7%, petroleum products 8.6%
partners :: Uganda 22.8%, UK 20.1%, Tanzania 19.1%, Germany 14.0%, Netherlands 7.6%, US 6.1%

Imports

total value:: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities:: machinery and transportation equipment 53%, petroleum and petroleum products 23.7%, iron and steel 12.2%, raw materials, food and consumer goods (1989)
partners :: UK 21.3%, UAE 18%, Japan 14%, Germany, US

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

357,251

(1989 est.)

Telephone system

in top group of African systems

domestic:: primarily microwave radio relay
international:: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

total

92under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 22

Railways

total :: 2,652 km
narrow gauge:: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways

total:: 63,663 km
paved:: 8,785 km
unpaved :: 54,878 km (1995 est.)

total :: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWT
ships by type:: oil tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (1996 est.)

Airports

200 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total : 108 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 95 (1996 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General Service | Unit of the Police

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.9%

(FY94/95)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary

Illicit drugs

widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat);
transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America;
Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa KINGMAN REEF (territory of the US)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Kenya.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/kenya/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →